Journalist Simon Phillips has now claimed that Chelsea are weighing up hiring a left-field shout to become their new manager.
He told his Substack that Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has been discussed internally as a potential candidate for if they make a managerial change in the coming weeks or months.
The pressure is reportedly firmly on Mauricio Pochettino and his staff, especially after the defeat in the EFL Cup final against Liverpool.
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
It has been reported that the club have already weighed up a number of options to potentially replace him with at the end of the season, or even before if needs be.
It has been claimed that a lot of their attention is at the door of Ruben Amorim from Sporting Lisbon. Recent reports have also stated that he is keen on a move to England soon.
However, it has now been claimed that they are looking a bit closer to home too. Phillips has stated that Howe has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the role.
Chelsea considering hiring Howe
He said: “But there has been a new name that I understand has at least been discussed internally as a potential option for Chelsea this summer, and that is Eddie Howe from Newcastle United.
“He is just a name that has been mentioned and also, a name that has been admired at Chelsea before now under the old ownership and the new ownership. I believe he was mentioned before we hired Graham Potter.
“But until now, Chelsea have only admired him and have not taken it any further. It could stay that way, but also, there might be an opportunity to seek him out this summer if that is what they decide to do.
“And that’s because he could be available. There’s been a few whispers that he could leave Newcastle in the summer, although nothing solid has come out on that yet and it may come to nothing.”
If Chelsea are to consider a manager from a Premier League side, they should look no further than Roberto de Zerbi.
While there will of course be a negative stigma about going to Brighton to hire again, he has taken the club to a new level down there, showing top talent along the way.
